Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Behavioral assistant salary
Average behavioral assistant salary
$39,681
Behavioral Assistant Salary Insights
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Behavioral Assistant is approximately $39,681 annually, or $19 hourly. This figure can vary significantly based on several factors including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific settings in which professionals work.
For instance, Behavioral Assistants employed in urban areas often see higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for services. States such as California and New York frequently offer the highest pay rates, attracting talent with competitive salaries.
Experience also plays a crucial role in salary levels. Entry-level positions typically start lower, while those with several years of experience may command significantly higher wages. For example, a Behavioral Assistant with 5-10 years of experience can expect to earn up to $50,000 annually in certain markets.
Understanding these salary dynamics is essential for making informed career decisions. By considering factors such as location and experience, aspiring Behavioral Assistants can identify the best opportunities for growth and advancement in their careers.
Let Zippia find your next behavioral assistant job
Let Zippia find your next behavioral assistant job
Where can a Behavioral Assistant earn more?
Behavioral assistant salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level behavioral assistant | $27,500 | $13.24 |
| Mid-level behavioral assistant | $39,100 | $18.79 |
| Senior-level behavioral assistant | $44,900 | $21.57 |
Behavioral assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average behavioral assistant salary by state
The average behavioral assistant salary in Washington, New Mexico, and Illinois are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average behavioral assistant salary states are West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for behavioral assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $50,355 | $24.21 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $47,193 | $22.69 |
| 3 | Illinois | $45,389 | $21.82 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $43,790 | $21.05 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $40,224 | $19.34 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $39,613 | $19.04 |
| 7 | New York | $43,228 | $20.78 |
| 8 | Oregon | $44,297 | $21.30 |
| 9 | Michigan | $39,013 | $18.76 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $45,088 | $21.68 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $49,287 | $23.70 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $40,485 | $19.46 |
| 13 | Arkansas | $41,213 | $19.81 |
| 14 | Florida | $40,202 | $19.33 |
| 15 | Alaska | $39,696 | $19.08 |
| 16 | California | $45,087 | $21.68 |
| 17 | Idaho | $39,801 | $19.14 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $39,935 | $19.20 |
| 19 | Nevada | $38,382 | $18.45 |
| 20 | Maine | $37,168 | $17.87 |
| 21 | Kansas | $40,417 | $19.43 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $39,388 | $18.94 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $39,823 | $19.15 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $38,757 | $18.63 |
| 25 | Arizona | $36,579 | $17.59 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $37,701 | $18.13 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| 28 | Indiana | $35,838 | $17.23 |
| 29 | Texas | $36,869 | $17.73 |
| 30 | Colorado | $37,068 | $17.82 |
| 31 | Maryland | $36,593 | $17.59 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $36,499 | $17.55 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $39,290 | $18.89 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $36,982 | $17.78 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $36,202 | $17.40 |
| 37 | Delaware | $38,439 | $18.48 |
| 38 | Missouri | $37,164 | $17.87 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $33,707 | $16.21 |
| 40 | Virginia | $37,611 | $18.08 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $34,487 | $16.58 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $35,065 | $16.86 |
| 43 | Utah | $34,544 | $16.61 |
| 44 | Alabama | $34,736 | $16.70 |
| 45 | Montana | $34,063 | $16.38 |
| 46 | Iowa | $33,322 | $16.02 |
| 47 | Georgia | $35,046 | $16.85 |
| 48 | Ohio | $33,060 | $15.89 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $32,839 | $15.79 |
| 50 | Vermont | $32,880 | $15.81 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $33,521 | $16.12 |
Highest paying cities for behavioral assistants
The highest-paying cities for behavioral assistants are Santa Maria, CA, New York, NY, and Salina, KS.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Maria, CA | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $43,400 | $20.87 |
| 3 | Salina, KS | $40,326 | $19.39 |
| 4 | Burnsville, MN | $40,287 | $19.37 |
| 5 | Kearny, NJ | $39,643 | $19.06 |
| 6 | Woburn, MA | $39,332 | $18.91 |
| 7 | Ann Arbor, MI | $39,141 | $18.82 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| 9 | Durham, NC | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $37,166 | $17.87 |
| 11 | Annapolis, MD | $36,624 | $17.61 |
Behavioral assistant salary details
A behavioral assistant's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $53,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a behavioral assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| Average | $39,681 | $3,307 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying behavioral assistant jobs
The highest paying types of behavioral assistants are behavioral health specialist, advising assistant, and behavioral specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behavioral Technician | $33,282 | $2,774 | $16.00 | 45,287 |
| Behavioral Therapist | $37,881 | $3,157 | $18.21 | 91,976 |
Top companies hiring behavioral assistants now:
Which companies pay behavioral assistants the most?
Behavioral assistant salaries at Physician Affiliate Group of New York and Anne Arundel County Public Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average behavioral assistant salary at companies like University of Michigan and Minnesota State Fair are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physician Affiliate Group of New York | $46,312 | $22.27 |
| 2 | Anne Arundel County Public Schools | $45,145 | $21.70 |
| 3 | University of Michigan | $44,034 | $21.17 |
| 4 | Minnesota State Fair | $43,636 | $20.98 |
| 5 | Loma Linda University Health | $43,027 | $20.69 |
| 6 | Northwell Health | $42,662 | $20.51 |
| 7 | Ascension Michigan | $41,812 | $20.10 |
| 8 | Baylor College of Medicine | $41,785 | $20.09 |
| 9 | Sharp HealthCare | $41,560 | $19.98 |
| 10 | PHMC | $41,051 | $19.74 |
| 11 | Buena Vista University | $40,196 | $19.32 |
| 12 | Eliot Community Human Services Inc | $39,773 | $19.12 |
| 13 | Maine | $39,439 | $18.96 |
| 14 | Imperial County Office of Education | $39,225 | $18.86 |
| 15 | Arts In Action Community Charter Schools | $38,553 | $18.54 |
| 16 | Care Plus NJ | $38,232 | $18.38 |
| 17 | Monroe 2 Boces | $38,016 | $18.28 |
| 18 | Empower U | $37,836 | $18.19 |
| 19 | UT Health East Texas | $37,764 | $18.16 |
| 20 | Rialto Unified School District | $37,657 | $18.10 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Behavioral Assistant salary by industry
The average behavioral assistant salary varies across industries:
- The average behavioral assistant salary in the health care industry is $39,095, the highest of any industry.
- The average behavioral assistant salary in the finance industry is $38,980.
- Behavioral assistants in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $27,676, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for behavioral assistants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $39,095 | $18.80 |
| 2 | Education | $38,980 | $18.74 |
| 3 | Professional | $38,753 | $18.63 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $27,676 | $13.31 |
High paying behavioral assistant jobs
Behavioral assistant salary trends
The average behavioral assistant salary has risen by $7,967 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average behavioral assistant earned $31,714 annually, but today, they earn $39,681 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for behavioral assistants over the last decade.
Compare behavioral assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average behavioral assistant salary over time
Compare behavioral assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Behavioral assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,700 | $19.08 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $38,700 | $18.60 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $37,200 | $17.90 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $36,500 | $17.57 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $35,100 | $16.88 | +3.1% |
Recently added behavioral assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama-Buena Vista Union School District | Behavioral Intervention Assistant School Year) | Bakersfield, CA | 06/27/2025 | $41,573 |
| Charles River Laboratories | Behavioral Enrichment Assistant | Mattawan, MI | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Charles River | Behavioral Enrichment Assistant | Bowne, MI | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Peoples Arc of Suffolk | Behavioral Support Assistant | Westhampton Beach, NY | 06/25/2025 | $41,552 |
| Buncombe County Schools | Cceis Behavioral Assistant | Boone, NC | 06/19/2025 | $38,818 |
| Public School of North Carolina | Cceis Behavioral Assistant | Asheville, NC | 06/19/2025 | $38,818 |
| Loudoun County Public Schools | Behavioral Assistant (SY) | Ashburn, VA | 06/12/2025 | $73,901 |
| Miami-Dade County Public Schools | Para Behavioral_Ponce de Leon Middle(1674100) | Coral Gables, FL | 06/04/2025 | $20,959 |
| Russell Nesbitt Services | Direct Care-Behavioral Specialist Assistant | Wheeling, WV | 06/03/2025 | $24,522 |
| Antioch Unified | Paraeducator III-Behavioral Needs | Antioch, CA | 05/21/2025 | $57,434 |
Behavioral assistant salary FAQs
Search for behavioral assistant jobs